Pastor Josh is married to Stephanie, and they have three children together. He grew up in New Orleans, where he wasn’t particularly interested in church. However, his life took a significant turn due to an unexpected event—Hurricane Katrina. As the storm approached, his family evacuated and encountered another family who had previously had a vision of them five years earlier and had held onto a furnished home just for them. Despite this miracle, Josh still felt lost and hopeless. One evening, searching for answers, he picked up a Bible on his nightstand and found inspiration within, initiating a transformative journey. As God spoke to him through those pages, Josh yielded to Jesus as King and committed to do whatever He desired.
By eighteen, Josh’s mission became clear: to tell the world about the transforming power of Jesus. After working diligently, he moved to Europe for the summer immediately after graduating from high school. While living there, he connected with people from all over the continent, sharing how their lives could be rich with hope and purpose.
After his summer abroad, he returned to ask his bride-to-be to marry him. They made their best attempts to plan their future together, but the Lord had other plans. Although he initially pursued a degree in medicine, he ultimately completed his college education in Biblical Studies, with a focus on the ancient languages of scripture. Shortly thereafter, he continued his education at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Raised under the shadows of voodoo, Mardi Gras, and intellectual communism, Josh understands what it’s like to grapple with things that offer false fulfillment. As a native of New Orleans, he’s no stranger to spiritual warfare and tough questions. His background has given him a tender heart for the seeking skeptic, drunks, addicts, and those entangled in spiritual struggles.
Since that pivotal moment in his life, Josh has been passionate about helping others to have a meaningful encounter with God. He loves the authenticity of ancient Christianity, teaching the Bible, and sharing the power of God’s Spirit through prayer. In a world of shallow spirituality, Josh is committed to demonstrating that the ancient church is still alive, God is still powerful, and Jesus equips us with the purpose to transform the world.
If you would like to meet with Josh, just email him at josh@wakeunion.com. He loves to take people to lunch and get to know everyone.